There are so many amazing professional development ideas for music educators. Some opportunities are formal and some are informal. Both are needed and important. In this blog post (and on episode 159 of The Elementary Music Teacher podcast), I’ll share ways you can get the most out of your professional development as a music teacher.
Formal professional development opportunities
The most common types of professional development are the formal ones. These are workshops, summits, levels courses, and so forth. Of course these are important and needed. Not only that, you’re required to get enough professional development hours to meet the requirements of your school, district, or state. How you choose what to take is completely up to you.
Look for opportunities in your area. There will be some right down the road or a couple hours from where you live. Another option is to research opportunities in neighboring states. Ask your music teacher friends if they know of opportunities, check Facebook groups, and even look at music education websites. There is truly so much out there both in person and online and knowing what you need as a teacher and what sounds interesting to learn about is how you can choose your options. But with that said, don’t be afraid to take workshops that are similar because every presenter will teach the information in different and new ways.
Learning from the teacher down the hallway
Honestly, the best professional development comes from other teachers. If you have a pressing question, go next door and talk to the art teacher about it. Or, if you’ve made connections with music teachers at workshops, communicate with them regularly to get new ideas and fresh perspectives. You may be stuck in how to connect with your students, in how to teach a lesson, or even with how to implement technology. Think about those in person connections you’ve already made who can help you with these topics.
Then, do your research and go on social media to find teachers who can help you with this information, even by what they post. You will find the right connections, both in person and virtually, who will help to spur you on in your music teaching journey. Figure out where you like to hang out most often. Are you on Instagram, Facebook groups, Clubhouse, or somewhere else? Think about where you are most often on social media, and then start forming connections with other music teachers. Ask questions, offer support, then you’ll get new ideas by just connecting with others.
Taking breaks and doing nothing
The best mental clarity comes from literally taking a break. Of course formal professional development is important. But, what’s also equally important is giving yourself the quiet space to sit and think. This is when mental clarity and breakthrough will happen for you.
Maybe there’s something you’ve been stuck with. You’re trying to think through the upcoming school year and feel like your wheels are turning. Allow yourself the mental space to process through the formal professional development opportunities and what you learned.
It’s not always just about the PD certificate. You can also learn from podcasts, Clubhouse rooms, watching Facebook or Instagram lives, and having ongoing conversations. Reframe the way you view professional development, look for professional development ideas for music educators, and then give yourself the quiet space to process through what you learned about.
What is your favorite professional development opportunity you’ve ever taken? Tell me about it in the comments below or share your thoughts on social media as you share this post. I’d love for you to share this post or any of the resources on my website with a friend or colleague who you know NEEDS to see it too.
P.S. Are you feeling frustrated or stuck as an elementary music teacher? Check out these free resources to help you teach elementary music with confidence!
Also…I wrote a book called “Make A Note: What You Really Need To Know About Teaching Elementary Music” to help music teachers move forward in your teaching career. You can get your copy here.
